The Portland girls basketball team outscored Ionia 27-17 in the second half Tuesday night to pick up a 48-36 victory in the annual Coaches vs. Cancer pink game between the two squads.

The Raiders held a slim 21-19 lead at the break, but turned up the defense in the second half, holding the Bulldogs to only one basket in the third quarter. On offense, Portland went on a 15-2 run to take a 36-21 lead into the fourth quarter.

"We just needed to challenge the kids defensively and they just needed to go out there and show a little enthusiasm and intensity and I think the kids responded in the third quarter and late in the fourth," Raider coach Ray Kimball said. "I think both teams were very bland with there game plan and didn't want to show a whole lot with districts coming up."

Portland and Ionia will meet in the semifinals of districts on Feb. 27 at Middleville Thornapple-Kellogg High School.

With Tuesday's game being the last home game for Lady Dawg seniors Erika Ketchum, Kendra Nickell and Megan Nickell, it was fitting that one of them got the Bulldogs going early on.

Kendra Nickell scored the first five points of the game for Ionia as part of a 7-0 run.

Portland countered with back-to-back 3s to spark a 13-0 run that was snapped by Ionia junior Sarah Swartz's basket with two seconds left in the opening quarter.

Portland extended their lead to 17-12 in the second, but Ionia got a boost from junior Taylor Bovee and Swartz, who successfully converted on three-point plays on back-to-back possessions to give Ionia the lead. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, that was the last time they would lead in the contest.

"We struggled in the third quarter to score then we turned the ball over a few times and they capitalized on those turnovers," Ionia coach Andy Barr said. "When you are playing a good team like Portland you have to take care of the ball."

Madison King led Portland with 16 points while Kelsey Spitzley finished with 12.

Ionia was led by Swartz, who finished with 13 points and Bovee finished with 10.

Despite the loss, Barr said he was proud of how his players got involved in raising funds for the American Cancer Society and the Ionia Relay for Life with their efforts leading up to this game.

"I think our girls did a nice job raising a lot of money for our community," he said. "I think that's something that it's important for them to be involved in community activities and our girls do a nice job of getting involved in the community."

Ionia (11-8) will finish the regular season in Owosso on Friday night.

Portland (16-3) will travel to Stockbridge on Friday for their regular-season finale.